NEW SWEDEN, Maine — The New Sweden Consolidated School held their eighth-grade graduation ceremony on June 12, at the New Sweden Consolidate School’s gymnasium.
The commencement ceremony began with the processional of the graduates, making their way from the hallways of a school they will most certainly miss, to the stage of their school’s gymnasium, where they would officially become graduates of a school in which nearly their entire education has taken place. The Union 122 Band played the traditional graduation ceremonial song “Pomp and Circumstance,” as they made their way to the stage with an apparent combination of both sadness, fear and gleeful enthusiasm, as the graduates knew they were taking their last steps toward the next phase of their education.
For a moment of fun and humor during the ceremony, New Sweden music teacher Jennifer Holmes and graduate Calvin Mockler both made their way to the podium to present their own superlatives, as well as a class will. Holmes presented the class prophecies by predicting where each student would be in 10 years. For example, Holmes stated, “The staff thinks Ashley Conroy will be living in an artist colony on the coast of Maine — especially famous the sculptures she will create.”
Mockler presented the Class Will by addressing each individual graduate and specifying what they would be leaving to their underclassmen. One of the more humorous was Anya O’Meara, who is likely just pushing five-feet tall, but decided to leave her height to one of her friends and undergraduates.
The guest speaker for the night’s event was Ernie Easter, who is a grade 8 teacher at the school, among other things. Easter began his speech by saying, “Congratulations, this is your night.”
“You’ve learned much,” Easter continued. “With the prospect of college in your future — the learning is just beginning.”
Easter praised the graduates for the hard work and effort they have put forth throughout their time at New Sweden Consolidated School, and sounded fully confident these students would go on to achieve even more in the years to come.
“I know you know all the basics, with a good solid background,” said Easter, “I wish you well, as you leave us to pursue the goals you have for yourselves.”
Easter ended his speech by reciting “The Road Less Taken” by famous poet Robert Frost. He told the students to pave their own way in life, rather than always taking the road that has already been groomed. “Be trailblazers,” Easter told the graduates, as he left the stage to a standing ovation.
Finally, it was the moment the eighth-grade graduates had all been waiting for, as the presentation of the diplomas were now to be handed out. School Principal, Laurie Spooner and member of the School Committee Debbie Eustis-Grandy approached the stage to pass out the graduates’ well deserved diplomas.
This year’s eighth-grade graduating class receiving diplomas included; Valedictorian Anya O’Meara, Salutatorian Noah Margeson, Class Marshal Trevor Hill, Ashley Conroy, Calvin Mockler and Jacob Weymouth.
